Brussels, 03 December 2020
Hazardous chemical substances related to meals packaging have been present in excessive portions within the human physique. As revealed by new analysis launched in the present day from the Zero Waste Europe Community (1) who’re calling for robust motion to make sure sustainable and secure packaging that adequately protects each the atmosphere and human well being.
The analysis examined urine samples for the presence of chemical substances generally utilized in (single-use) plastic meals packaging, i.e phthalates and phenols, and related by scientists with ailments similar to most cancers and heart problems, in addition to affecting the reproductive and immune system. Of the 28 chemical substances analysed (2), a mean of 20.5 chemical substances have been discovered within the samples (with a spread from 18 to 23 chemical substances discovered).
This new analysis was carried out by Zero Waste Europe and 5 of its members – Ecologists with out Borders, Rezero, Za Zemiata, ZERO and Zero Waste Latvija, with members from Belgium, Bulgaria, Latvia, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain (3). The 52 members included determination makers, artists, cooks, journalists and different public figures (4).
This analysis provides to a rising physique of scientific literature that proves the publicity of customers to hazardous chemical substances by means of single use meals packaging, notably plastic, and hyperlinks this publicity to quite a few ailments. Once more we’re seeing that public well being has been inadequately protected against these poisonous chemical substances for too lengthy. We can not proceed to maintain residents at the hours of darkness on the impacts of what they purchase and devour. This must be urgently addressed by determination makers and packaging producers.” Rosa Garcia, Director at Rezero.
In March, a gaggle of famend scientists launched a Consensus Assertion (5) that raised the alarm on the 1000’s of chemical substances utilized in meals packaging and different types of meals contact supplies. The assertion highlights that given the flexibility of those chemical substances (lots of that are hazardous) emigrate from the packaging to the meals, their continued use is placing human well being in danger. As a response to the assertion, 230+ NGOs internationally signed a Declaration of Concern calling on determination makers to take pressing motion (6).
Earlier this 12 months the European Fee dedicated to suggest a revision of EU laws on meals contact supplies by the tip of 2022 (7). The present laws is outdated, inadequate and insufficient, and is broadly acknowledged to be failing at its job of defending human well being throughout Europe (8).
This lengthy awaited and largely known as for revision is a chance that should not be wasted. Changes on the margin to the present laws is not going to do the trick; if the EU needs to successfully defend human well being, whereas on the identical time constructing sustainable meals programs and a toxic-free round economic system, it must go for a basic reform.” Added Justine Maillot, Consumption and Manufacturing Campaigner at Zero Waste Europe.
For an in depth context and background to this undertaking please see our Background Doc.
CONTACTS
Justine Maillot, Consumption & Manufacturing Campaigner at Zero Waste Europe, [email protected] | +32 487 347215
Eilidh Robb, Communications Officer, Zero Waste Europe, [email protected] | +44 753 1525899
Hazardous chemical substances related to meals packaging have been present in excessive portions within the human physique. As revealed by new analysis launched in the present day from the Zero Waste Europe Community (1) who’re calling for robust motion to make sure sustainable and secure packaging that adequately protects each the atmosphere and human well being.
The analysis examined urine samples for the presence of chemical substances generally utilized in (single-use) plastic meals packaging, i.e phthalates and phenols, and related by scientists with ailments similar to most cancers and heart problems, in addition to affecting the reproductive and immune system. Of the 28 chemical substances analysed (2), a mean of 20.5 chemical substances have been discovered within the samples (with a spread from 18 to 23 chemical substances discovered).
This new analysis was carried out by Zero Waste Europe and 5 of its members – Ecologists with out Borders, Rezero, Za Zemiata, ZERO and Zero Waste Latvija, with members from Belgium, Bulgaria, Latvia, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain (3). The 52 members included determination makers, artists, cooks, journalists and different public figures (4).
This analysis provides to a rising physique of scientific literature that proves the publicity of customers to hazardous chemical substances by means of single use meals packaging, notably plastic, and hyperlinks this publicity to quite a few ailments. Once more we’re seeing that public well being has been inadequately protected against these poisonous chemical substances for too lengthy. We can not proceed to maintain residents at the hours of darkness on the impacts of what they purchase and devour. This must be urgently addressed by determination makers and packaging producers.” Rosa Garcia, Director at Rezero.
In March, a gaggle of famend scientists launched a Consensus Assertion (5) that raised the alarm on the 1000’s of chemical substances utilized in meals packaging and different types of meals contact supplies. The assertion highlights that given the flexibility of those chemical substances (lots of that are hazardous) emigrate from the packaging to the meals, their continued use is placing human well being in danger. As a response to the assertion, 230+ NGOs internationally signed a Declaration of Concern calling on determination makers to take pressing motion (6).
Earlier this 12 months the European Fee dedicated to suggest a revision of EU laws on meals contact supplies by the tip of 2022 (7). The present laws is outdated, inadequate and insufficient, and is broadly acknowledged to be failing at its job of defending human well being throughout Europe (8).
This lengthy awaited and largely known as for revision is a chance that should not be wasted. Changes on the margin to the present laws is not going to do the trick; if the EU needs to successfully defend human well being, whereas on the identical time constructing sustainable meals programs and a toxic-free round economic system, it must go for a basic reform.” Added Justine Maillot, Consumption and Manufacturing Campaigner at Zero Waste Europe.
For an in depth context and background to this undertaking please see our Background Doc.
- (1)
- (2) The 28 chemical substances analysed embody: 17 phthalates metabolites (MEP, MiBP, MnBP, MBzP, MnPeP, MCHP, MnOP, MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, ohMiNP, oxoMINP, cxMiNP, ohMPHP, oh MINCH and oxoMINCH) and 11 phenols compounds (MEPA, ETPA, PRPA, BUPA, BPA, BPS, BPB, BPAF, OXBE advert TRCS).
- (3) The samples have been examined by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the outcomes have been then analysed by the Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques in Barcelona (IMIM).
- (4) For instance, members in Belgium embody Government Vice President Margrethe Vestager, EP Vice President Heidi Hautala, ENVI Committee Chair Pascal Canfin in addition to MEP Frédérique Ries. Eline Schaart, journalist at Politico and Frédéric Simon, journalist editor at Euractiv have been additionally among the many members.
- (5) Scientific Consensus Assertion on the “Impact of Food Packaging Chemicals on Human Health,” led by the Food Packaging Forum, and printed in Environmental Health on 3 March 2020.
- (6) Declaration of Concern.
- (7) The Farm to Fork Strategy, launched in Might 2020; foresees that “The Fee will revise the meals contact supplies laws to enhance meals security and public well being (specifically in decreasing using hazardous chemical substances), assist using modern and sustainable packaging options utilizing environmentally-friendly, reusable and recyclable supplies, and contribute to meals waste discount”. The Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, launched in October 2020 provides additional indication on the revision and what it ought to obtain.
- (8) Zero Waste Europe place paper “In direction of secure meals contact supplies in toxic-free round economic system.”
CONTACTS
Justine Maillot, Consumption & Manufacturing Campaigner at Zero Waste Europe, [email protected] | +32 487 347215
Eilidh Robb, Communications Officer, Zero Waste Europe, [email protected] | +44 753 1525899